In Their Own Words: Stories from Survivors

This report was written by Sarita Pandey, Namlo’s Admin and Finance Officer, now also serving in a communications role.

Sarita Pandey in Namlo Nepal Relief Truck

To respond to the calamity caused by the high magnitude earthquake, Namlo is assessing the damages to the communities in its 2 program districts, out of the total 2 districts severely affected by the disaster. The rapid need assessment will provide basic information on the scale of loss to the Namlo supported communities in those districts.

As thousands of people lost their lives and get injured, hundreds of thousands of people were made homeless and entire villages flattened due to the upheavals.

To meet the immediate need, Namlo have contributed Relief support in Sindhupalchok and Tanahu. Namlo has also requested all Namlo’s donors, community organizations and well-wishers to contribute to the fund and relief efforts to their level best. Namlo is saddened to the loss of lives and properties caused by the earthquake, which have struck all, but the poor communities are going to be more affected as they have less capacity to deal with the disaster.

1.

Name: Teknath Poudel

Teknath Poudel

Age: 68 yrs.

No. of family members: 8

Address: Mankha- 4, Sindhupalchok

Namaste, I am Teknath Poudel. I am 68 years old. In my life this is the memorable event. We faced earth quake problems in many times but others were not harmful like this one.I have 8 members in my family but 6 are living here at Mankha and 2 members are outside of Country. At the time of Earth quake I was at Khadichaur (Local market of Mankha). Due to the destroyed of many things all peoples were afraid, so I was unable to return to my home at that day. I was stayed at Khadichaur, I have tried to call the family members but could not contact them, I was worried about my family members, cattle and home. I couldn’t sleep at night. Next day, early in the morning I marched to home. When I arrived at home, I found my family members safe but lost my house. My buffalo is injured and lost about 1500 kg of food grains kg like- maize, paddy,millet etc. I was able to save about 200 kg of food grains but all the food grains which I have saved are mixed with dust and mud. You can see my house behind me. Currently we are using tins of damaged housed to construct a temporary hut for shelter. We received 1bag rice of 25 kg through VDC Office, 1 tent from Suaahara (USAID- Save the children-Local partner). We don’t have other food and hygienic items like- cooking oil, lentils, salt, soap, chlorine for water purification etc.So, I request toNamlo andother organizations as well as government of Nepal to support for food items andreconstruction of shelter.

2.

Name: ChomKumari Nepal

Dipendra interviews Chom

Age: 55 yrs.

No. of family members: 9

Address: Mankha- 4, Sindhupalchok

Namaste, my name is Chom Kumari Nepal. I am 55 years old. There are 9 members in my family but 5 are living here at Mankha and 4 members are outside of village. At the time of Earth quake I was outside of my home, it was my good luck. All the family members are safe. I have lost my home, food grains (about 500 kg) and NRs. 5,000.00 (USD $ 50.00) which I had kept in my house. If you calculate the cost for all the things including home, I think it was about NRs. 1,000,000.00 (USD $ 10,000.00) which I have lost due to the earth quake. We are living here with fear. Currently we are using tins of damaged housed to construct a temporary hut for shelter. This is our temporary hut for shelter. We received 1bag rice of 25 kg through VDC Office, 1 tent from Suaahara (ed. note: USAID- Save the children-Local partner). We don’t have other food and hygienic items like- cooking oil, lentils, salt, soap, bedding and clothes to wear.So, Namlo and other organizations as well as government of Nepal are requested to support for food items, bedding, cloths to wear and reconstruction of shelter.

3.

Name: Keshav Prasad Parajuli

Principal of Mankha

Principal of Mankha School

Address: Mankha- 4, Sindhupalchok

Namaste, I am Keshav Prasad Parajuli. I am Principal of Mankha School. I am from Mankha- 4, Sindhupalchok. All the members of my home are safe. My home is also cracked but I am worried about School more than my home. When we met the Namlo personalities – Keith, Dipendra and Sangmu we hoped to get fund for construction of new school building. After a few months we have signed in agreement to construction of new building. All the peoples from ward 2, 3, 4 & 5 were very happy and were working with their invaluable time.Due the Earth quake we lost our dream. All the old buildings were destroyed and walls of new building also destroyed by earth quake. It affected the future of all the students of this school. Now we don’t have any rooms to start classes.

Old Mankha School Destroyed

So, it is a colossal problem for Mankha School to manage the class rooms to start new session. To start new session we required tents and other materials to make temporary cottage. We also need extra money to reconstruction of walls of new building.Community members couldn’t donate for school construction as they also lost their homes other materials. We are unable to coordinate with District Education Office due the current situation. District Education Office has limit resources as this district has lost most of the schools. So, want to request to Namlo and other organizations as well as government of Nepalto support for temporary shelter and reconstruction of school buildings.